Written by ARTSNLA Staff

Today, we are celebrating Betty White’s 74-year revolution as a pioneer and icon who has truly changed the world with her optimism and sheer perseverance. Here’s the scoop:

Betty White stood up against inequality throughout her career while making history and changing the world by standing up for everything she believed in. After White was asked to remove tap dancer Arthur Duncan from The Betty White Show, she decided to give Duncan more airtime to perform on television. In addition, Betty White supported LGBT rights. Sometimes, she would accompany her close friend Liberace to premieres.

Betty White is well-known as a pioneer of television, as she was named the “First Lady of T.V.”. White made history as the first woman to produce a sitcom in America: Life with Elizabeth. She was a cast member of The Golden Girls and The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which received a TV Land Award for “Groundbreaking Show”. With 57 award nominations and 27 wins, White is one of the first women who could work in front of as well as behind the camera. Betty White earned two Guinness World Records for the longest TV career by a female entertainer. She also received 5 Emmy Awards, the Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award, 3 American Comedy Awards, 2 Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a GRAMMY Award for Best Spoken Word Recording.

A revolutionary icon, Betty White raised awareness while advocating for animal welfare. A pet enthusiast, she worked with a list of businesses: African Wildlife Foundation, Morris Animal Foundation, and the Los Angeles Zoo Commission. She also donated $100,000+ to the Los Angeles Zoo. As a beloved actress, Betty White was truly a friend on and off the screen to the viewers. She was also a friend to the planet, as she has changed the world in a positive way. Betty White’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame has cemented her incredible legacy as a revolutionary pioneer and icon. Also, the L.A. Zoo honored her by naming a self-guided tour after her: Betty’s L.A. Zoo Tour.

“She was a rare gem. I call her an endangered species. She made it her life’s purpose to use her humor, her influence to make the world a better place for all creatures. Her body might be absent today, but her spirit will live on at the Los Angeles Zoo forever,” Zoo Director Denise Verret voiced.